Improvement in sweat-bands for hats and caps



T. W. BRAM-IER. Sweat-Band for Hats and Caps. iNo. 2153.480.

Patented Aug. 12,1879.

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IMPROVEMENT IN SWEAT-BANDS FOR HATS AND CAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,480, dated August 12, 1879; application filed July 16, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS W. BRAcHER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Sweat-Bands for Hats and Caps, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view of my sweat-band. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same in the plane x x, Fig. 1, on a larger scale than in the previous ligure. Fig. Sis an inside view of the same,.the thinned edges being partly folded. Fig. 4t is a transverse section of a piece of leather prepared according to my invention on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. This invention consists in a sweat-band having its edge cut down to about one-half the original thickness, and then folded over so that the thickness of the folded portion does but little exceed the thickness of the body of the sweat-band, if at all; also, in the combination, with a folded and stretched edge sweatband, and with a reed or wire fastened in or to said edge, of a removable fastening adapted to retain the reed or spring in position, and

-' to prevent the contraction of the stretched edge in handlingthe sweat-band.

In carryingoutmy invention, l take apiece, A, of leather, Fig. 3, and produce therein creases or depressions a c at suitable distances apart by cutting'down the leather to about one-half its original thickness, so that when the piece A is cut up into strips A, each suitable for a sweat-band, both edges of each strip are cut down to such a widththat each edge b can be folded over upon itself, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or folded over on the body of the sweatband, thereby giving to the folded part a thickness about equal to the original thickness of Athe leather.

The edges ff of the creases a a are straight, and when this part of the leather is bent over on the body of the sweat-band, instead of on itself, one of the edges f f forms a guide whereby a straight edge can be given to the article without difficulty.

In ordinary sweat-bands the folded part is twice as thick as the remaining portion, and

a clumsy appearance is produced when the sweat-band is secured in a hat or cap. In my sweat-band the folded edge presents a 1inished appearance, and it lies snugly against the edge of the head-opening without producing a clumsy appearance, and, particularly if the edge of the sweat-band is stretched so as to form a iiange or brim extending over the edge of the head-openin g, the advantage of the thinned edge will be still more apparent.

If the edge of the sweat-band is stretched so as to form a ange or brim, c, this flange is liable to loseits original shape when theleather becomes damp and contracts in drying, or

when the sweat-band is handled injudiciously,

and it is therefore desirable to counteract this contraction by inserting into or fastening to the folded edge a reed or wire, d; but if, in handling the sweat-band before the same is secured in a hat or cap, the reed or wire is permitted to slide in the folded edge, its effect in keeping said edge stretched is lost, and by an injudicious handling of the sweat-band the flange or brim produced by the stretching of the edge loses its shape. This difliculty I have overcome by applying to the reed or spring a clasp or fastening, e, which prevents the same from sliding in the folded edge of the sweatband, and which can be readily removed after the sweat-band has been cut to the proper length ready to be inserted into a hat or cap.

Instead of using a metallic fastening, e, I can turn the end of the reed or spring down and fasten it in position by a few stitches, 6*, which can be readily taken off after the sweatband has been cut to the proper length ready to be inserted into a hat or cap.

I do not claim, broadly, a sweat band or leather lapped at its edges, or the combination of a lapped and stretched sweat-band with a covered reed, as these inventions are old. bNor do I here claim a sweat-band having a lining secured to the band by a row of stitches, and provided with a flap adapted to be folded over the row of stitches and protect the body of the hat or cap against perspiration which may follow the threads composing the stitches.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f 1. A sweat-band for hats and caps having its edge out down to about one-halt' the origispring in position, substantially as and for the nul thickness, and then folded over, snbstanpurpose sety forth. tially as described, so that the thickness ot' In testimony that I claim the foregoing,` I the folded portion is nearly equal t-o that of have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th the body of the sweat-band. day of July, 1879.

2. The combination, with a folded and T. W. BRACHER. lL. 8.] stretched edge sweat-band, and with a reed or wire fastened in or to said edge, of' n removable fastening adapted to retain the reed or| Witnesses:

E. F. KASTENHUBER, J. VAN SANTVooRD. 

